Kishan Reddy takes exception to CM's comments on RTC strike

BJP leader and Union Minister G Kishan Reddy on Friday took exception to Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's comments over the ongoing TSRTC employees strike that a new law made by the Centre allows states to permit private players to run buses.

He was responding to Rao's comments on Thursday that the new Motor Vehicles amendment Act, recently enacted by the NDA government, gives powers to states to allow private players and to promote competition (so that people get better transport facilities).

"The Centre never made any law to suspend or remove workers from jobs," Reddy, the Minister of State for Home, told reporters here.

Referring to BJP's support to the strike by employees of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation, Rao had sought to know if local BJP leaders would say their Prime Minister was wrong, vis--vis the law to allow private players.

He had also said the strike by employees is illegal.

"Various false campaigns are being carried out about BJP. The Centre never made any law to suspend workers or remove them from jobs.

(Rao) is saying we are doing this because the Centre has said so. We say you hold talks with the workers, solve their problems and run RTC how you wish to do so," Reddy said.

The MoS alleged that an attempt was being made to pin the blame on the Centre by saying that the disciplinary action against the striking employees was taken as per the law enacted by the centre.

"A situation has come about when employees and workers in the state have to think about TRS rule," he said.

The leaders of RTC employees unions met Kishan Reddy on Friday to represent their problems.

The employees have been on strike for the past 20 days in support of their demands, including merger of RTC with the government.

The state government recently appointed a committee to examine demands other than the merger.

Reddy, Lok Sabha member from Secunderabad here, attended various programmes in the city on Friday.

Speaking at a CRPF event, he paid homage to the martyrs and said the Centre is taking various measures for the welfare of personnel of para-military forces.

The government has taken steps to provide vehicles, equipment,weapons and new technologies which the personnel of the paramilitary forces require, he added.